Tool for weaving wire-and-picket fences



(No Model.)

A. J. BIGELOW & G. E. PROSSER. TOOL FOR WEAVING WIRE AND PIOKET FENCES.No. 443,892. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

LtweMw QM awwm f UNTTE D STATES PATENT @FFICEQ ALFRED BIGELOV AND GEORGEE. PROSSER, OF NE\V LONDON, OIIIO.

TOOL FOR WEAVING WlRE-AND-PIOKET FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 443,892, dated December30, 1890.

Application filed August 5, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED J. BIGELOW and GEORGE E. PROSSER, citizensof the United States, residing at New London, in the county of Huron andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements inTools for Weaving Pickets into WVire Fences; and we do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to tools or instruments for weaving pickets intowire fences; and the object of the invention is to provide a tool orinstrument which is cheap and simple in operation, and which will enablefarmers and others who have fences of this kind to build to constructthe same themselves.

To this end the invention consists in the construction substantially asshown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the instrument or tool with the bladeclosed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof with the blade swunground to the extremity in the opposite direction and showing therelation of the spring thereto. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the tool invarious positions of use as they occur in succession, as hereinaftermore fully explained.

The handle A is bifurcated or split at its outer end to receive theblade B, pivoted at b therein and adapted to swing round from one sideto the other, as shown in the several views. In working size the handleis about fourteen inches long and the blade about seven inches. Thesesizes may be varied somewhat, but in practice are found to be aboutright.

The normal or first position of the tool is as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, inwhich it is held by a friction-lock (t, made in this instance of a pieceof wire bent into a loop, a portion of which extends into the slot ofthe handle occupied by the blade, and is fastened through a portion ofthe handle. Any suitable lock or any means that will serve to retain theblade in the handle, as shown, and from which it turns when put to use,will serve the purpose. Upon the opposite edge of the handle is a spring0, and nearly midway of its length is a stop cl, against which thespring bears when the tool Serial No. 361,099. (No model.)

is thrown round, as in Fig. 2. When the tool is released from the wirein weaving, the spring 0 instantly throws it round to the originalposition in readiness to repeat the operation of weaving. To enable thespring to work in the manner described, the blade is provided with anotch b at its head near its pivot-point. The end of the spring strikesthe long inclined face of the notch and rides into the end thereof,where with the stop at it prevents further turning of the blade in thatdirection. The blade, furthermore, is formed with a longpointedextremity 17 which enters between the stretched wires, and a pointedheel or spur b about midway of its length, which is adapted to engagethe wire, as shown, and form a stop to the thrust of the instrument. Thetwisting of the wire begins when this spur is reached, as then thepointed finger b is carried a sufficient distance through not to workout when turned.

The operation of the device is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, i, and 5.Assuming that the strands of wire g g are stretched between two posts oralong a line of fence and the pickets h are provided, a picket is placedin position between the wires, as shown in Fig. 3, and then the processof weaving begins. This is accomplished by inserting the instrumentbetween the wires from below up to the spur b and then giving it a turnto the position seen in Fig. i, which makes one twist of the wires. Thenby carrying the parts around to the position shown in Fig. 5 a doubletwist of the wires is effected and the movement completed. Theinstrument is then withdrawn and the wire retains its twist, there beinglittle or no spring in the common grades of wire used for this purpose.The same operation is repeated as to the several sets of wires for eachslot, two or more, at different elevations, and then another picket isplaced in position, and so on. In every alternate picket, however, thetwisting should be in the opposite direction to the one preceding, so asto take the twist out of the unwoven wire beyond the pickets. When theinstrument is released from this last movement, the spring 0automatically throws the blade around to the starting position and thefriction-lock holds it there. Otherwise the blade is pivoted to turnfreely. The style of spring may of course be differcut from that hereshown, and any spring that serves the purpose may be used.

This instrument, it will be seen, has a long finger, the base of whichis not wider than the thickness of an ordinary picket, so that thefinger will enter between the wires without spreading them away from thepicket and enable the weaving or twisting to be done close to thepicket.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an instrument to weave wire fences, a handle, a tool pivoted atone end in the end of the handle and provided with a pointed extremityto enter between the wires in weaving, and a spur projecting laterallyfrom one side of the tool at the base of the pointed portion and forminga stop, substantially-as described.

'2. The slotted handle having a spring at and provided with asharp-pointed finger, a lateral spur at the base of the finger, and anotch near its pivot-point for the spring on the handle, substantiallyas described.

The handle having the open slot in its end, a tool pivoted in said slotand having a pointed finger, a spur at the base of the finger, and aspring to throw the blade around to the starting position, substantiallyas described.

4. The slotted handle having a friction-stop for the blade and thespring, in combination with the blade pivoted in the handle and adaptedto turn between the spring and friction-stop, substantially asdescribed.

lVitness our hands to the foregoing specification this 22d day of July,1890.

ALFRED J. BIeELow. GEORGE E. PROSSER.

Witnesses:

ROLLIN C. Power-1e, ()RRIE HEMENWAY.

